"The root of evil" - Wednesdays Weekly Word

This week's devotion is "The root of evil". I have been studying the book of PROVERBS and I invite you to join me and see what God has stirred up in my heart. It is my prayer that somehow my writings will lead you closer to God and understanding His Word!

MONEY is a window to the human heart. This is why Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (found in Matthew 6:21) Our attitude toward money is a spiritual issue as much as anything else.

~ Our values can be reflected in our spending ~

• Some families spend only to survive...Others have barely enough to survive but find small ways to give!
• Some families spend only to enjoy things...While others make a lot of room for enjoyment but also make room for giving!
• Some scrimp and save and keep as much for themselves...while others foolishly give away and never save!

God cares what we spend and how we save. He cares about how we view money. He cares how much we trust in it and how much we use it for good or for bad. God demands our heart, as well as the things we treasure!

Having God's philosophy of money will save

a lot of pain and anxiety in life.

PROVERBS 11:24 "There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want."

So many times the verse in 1 Timothy 6:10 is misquoted. Many people think it says that "money is the root of evil". However, it actually says the evil is the LOVE of money. There is nothing wrong with money in itself, it is the improper love of it that leads to all kinds of evil.

Have you ever considered why a person who works long hours just remains exhausted and poor while another barely tries but still becomes so successful?

Many of us dream of being the second, but Solomon reminds us that this kind of dream is not worth a great deal of our time. "Don't wear yourself out to get rich." (Proverbs 23:4)

There are certain things in life worth wearing ourselves out about, but, wealth is not one of them. Having wealth is not a bad thing, but if all of your time and effort is focused on making the money, you won't have any time or desire to be generous with your money.

I love to see Christians who have attained God's blessings, turn around and give back to someone in need. Have you ever considered what it would be like to just write someone a check for ...

• $5,000 just because you could and just because you saw a need?


• Maybe you can't for $5,000 but what about $1,000? Wouldn't that be awesome to pour a blessing into someone because God has blessed you.


• $1,000 is out of your reach? how about $500...certainly that would be incredible to do.


• You can't do $500 ~blessing someone with a $100 would be awesome!

To be a giving Christian such as what I just described does not take an overabundance of wealth, instead it takes a person who is wise and generous. It is difficult to be generous if you are not in the position to be generous. In other words... are you unable to be a giver because of the debt you find yourself in. Society makes it easy for us to get in debt and remain in debt.

PROVERBS 22:7 "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave."

Many people are stunned by their financial situation they find themselves in, "I just don't know where the money goes."

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTER'S POLL, I polled the readers about their financial wisdom, "how do you rate on financial wisdom?" The top 3 votes were:

1. 53% of the readers voted and said, "I DO FAIRLY well, but I won't be able to retire until age 105."
2. 23% of those polled said, "I'M PRETTY GOOD but I have enough credit cards to play a hand of rummy."
3. 15% polled said, "MONEY disintegrates in my wallet and disappears."

We all NEED money but the solution to becoming WISE with your finances will take alittle hard work: make a budget, balance your accounts, reconcile your statements and keep records. Solomon tells us that we should "know the condition of our flocks, and pay attention to our herds" (Prov. 27:23)

In other words KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE PAID, AND TAKE CARE OF IT!

If you fall into the 15% bracket and have that "evaporating" kind of money, don't worry, you too can become like the giver I mentioned above ~The one who writes a check to someone in need. Finances will not take care of themselves, so don't bury your head in the sand. Create a plan to place yourself in a position that giving abundantly will not cause a financial uproar in your life and in your pocketbook!

PROVERBS 19:17 " Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender."

If you need help in the area of your finances, Larry Burkett was a great Christian Author of financial management and has several resources available. You may also consider a financial accountability partner to help you stay in tune each month with your finances. This should be someone you trust and who is impeccable with their finances (and a Christian!). God wants you to not only be a giver ~ but a cheerful one at that!

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL....Please take time to vote in this weeks poll! It is located on the side bar of this blog and check back next Wednesday for the results! YOUR OPINION MATTERS!